NCDs were under the spotlight in Canberra on the 2nd of March, when the Australian counterpart of the NCD Alliance - “Australians for Global Action on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)”- met with parliamentarians and senior health and aid officials to discuss the global emergency caused by the diseases.

It was recognized at the forum that the diseases pose a major barrier to global, social and economic development, exacerbating poverty and increasing health inequities both between and within countries.

The aim of the meeting was to discuss the impact of NCDs, as well as the role of the Australian Government in the lead up and beyond the UN Summit on NCDs in September. Australians for Global Action on Non-Communicable Diseases called on the Australian Government to take a leadership role in the fight against NCDs, place a high priority on its participation and contribution to the Summit and make commitments to ensure lasting outcomes are achieved.

Speakers at the event included the Australian Minister of Health Hon Nicola Roxon, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Healthcare Dr Andrew Southcott, and Bill Bowtell – Executive Director of Pacific Friends of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, who spoke about the lessons we can learn from the HIV/AIDS experience.

Australians for Global Action on NCDs is a group of individuals and organisations with expertise in chronic disease prevention and treatment working to raise awareness of the global impact of NCDs and to generate local support for global action.

Members include Professor Ruth Colagiuri from the International Diabetes Federation, Professor David Hill from the Union for International Cancer Control and Dr Lyn Roberts from the World Heart Federation, as well as other Australian associations. The full document can be downloaded here.